Promoting a sense of belonging

There have been a number of theories and models published over many years which explore the benefits of children feeling that they belong including Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs (1957) and Belongingness Hypothesis (Baumeister & Leary 1995). It’s widely recognised across the health and social care professions that promoting a sense of belonging is not only required to help a child reach their full potential but is essential for a child’s overall emotional and physiological health. Research studies and findings demonstrate that when children feel connected, accepted, and valued within their family, school, and community – they are better able to form secure relationships, which supports healthy emotional development and positive self-esteem. A strong sense of belonging also reduces stress and anxiety, lowering cortisol levels and supporting healthy brain development, sleep, and immune functioning.

Creating environments where children and young people feel they truly belong can provide the foundation needed for both emotional stability and overall physiological wellbeing. Foster carers can play a crucial role in promoting and developing this sense of belonging by intentionally creating opportunities for connection, inclusion, and developing a shared identity. 

By engaging in simple, regular activities, such as those detailed below, they can help make a child feel valued and a ‘part of the family’. Taking time to learn about the child’s background, culture, and interests, and weaving these into daily life, can also help them feel respected and understood.

Below are some suggestions for different activities which are designed to promote feelings of belonging.

Create a welcoming environment

• Create a cosy, comfortable and inviting family space for spending downtime together.
• Allow children to decorate and personalise their own spaces. Get involved in doing this and you can even extend by doing craft activities first such as creating mood or vision boards to capture and share ideas.
• Allow children to incorporate and share their own personal touches or personality across the house, not just in their bedrooms.
• Display artwork, medals, trophies, certificates for everyone to see and celebrate.

Introduce daily routines and/or rituals

• Do a daily check in where each person shares the best part of their day, the worst and something funny or random.
• Have set mealtimes where everyone eats together. Use this time to share stories, talk about your day and unplug from technology.
• Have consistent and established routines for the beginning and end of the day which focus on positive interactions.
• Read a book together – it could be a bedtime story, helping with reading or share a book with an older child/teen.
• Introduce ‘switch off time’ by encouraging children to unplug from their electronic devices and engage in a different activity or interest. Share this time with them if possible.
• Embrace technology – have a family group chat which is used to promote bonding but be mindful if setting boundaries!

Build emotional connections and affirmations

• Encourage small and regular Random Acts of Kindness, recognise and praise these.
• Create an ‘all about me’ box for storing or sharing important items that represent everyone’s unique identities.
• Share interests and get involved – yes, standing pitch side is cold in the winter but being there builds connections and feelings of belonging.
• Celebrate achievements and share these with others in the household.
• Encourage and model sharing and reflecting on emotions safely.
• Take time to play and have fun!
• For children who are unable to articulate their feelings, find ways for them to share through non-verbal means.

Mechelle Holley – TACT Health Commissioning & Performance Manager